Timer for ignition apparatus.



1. L. MIL'TON.

TIMER FOR IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, I914.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I. L. MILTON.

TIMER FOR IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 24, I914.

2 SHEETSLSHEET 2.

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Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

JOHN LEWIS MILTON, OF CLEVELAND,

OHIOQASSIGNORTO MOTOR IGNITION & DEVICES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

TIMER FOB IGNITION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917.

Application iile'd September 24, 1914. Serial No. 863,320.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN .Lnwis MILTON,

a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Cleveland, in the State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Timer for Ignition Apparatus, of which the 'following is a l specification.

My invention has particular reference to improvements in the timer forming a part of the electric generator for which I applied for Letters q date of ,May 15, 1914:, application No.

838,650. One purpose of the herein described invention is to provide an improved connection between the stationary wires or cables an the adjustable timer, so that the movement of the adjustable member (Which occurs when the ignition is the Fig. 1.

' spindle .and

advanced or retarded) does not cause bending, or twisting of said wires 'or cables. Such bending or twisting, as is well known, is a common source of broken or loose wires in the connections to timers and like apparatus. Another urpose of the invention is to improve the ulcrum of the timer lever, so as to reduce the friction at that point. In addition to the specific improvements above set forth, my invention provides improvements in minor details, whereby a more substantial apparatus is produced.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a. general view of my inven t-ion. r

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 22 of Fig. 1.- 1

Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of hows details of the timer lever nianner of securing it to the Fig. f

lever.

Fig. 5 illustrates the construction of the bearing plate and'certain associated parts.

a section along the line 66 of Fig. 6 is Fig. 1. I

Fig. 7 is a view from the bottom of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a view of a portion of Fig. 6 from the left. 1 I I I Fig. 9 shows a circuit that maybe employed.

ReferringtoFigs. 1 and 2,1 is the body "of the engine. Patent under the filing member of the into this groove.

.part of the stationary member. Said body contains a bearing for a'shaft 2. In use the body lis rigidly attached to an internal combustion engine in any suitable manner. It may, for example, form part of a generator which is'bolted to said engine. The shaft 2 is adapted to be driven by the engine at a suitable speed relative to the speed The particular form of timer herein shown and described is suitable for a two cylinder four cycle engine, having cylinders inclined to each other, and the shaft 2 is driven at half the speed ofthe crank shaft. Rigidly secured to the shaft 2 are two cams 3 and 4. The cam 3, which is preferably of steel, is secured to the end of the shaft by means ofa nut 5, the end of the shaft being tapered. The cam 4 is preferably of insulating material as fiber, for reasons hereinafter given. There is an adjustable base 10, having a bearing on the end plate 1, and adapted to revolve through a limited range substantially about the axis of the shaft 2. To produce this limitation of the movement, there is a groove 1, in the form of an arc, in the body 1. The adjustable base 10 has a projection 10, extendino' Said projection 10 is pre erably formed by squirting the metal of the base 10, the formation of the hole 1O being incidental to this ting of the projection 10' against the ends of the groove 1. limits the motion of the adjustable member. The adjustable base 10, together with the hereinafter described parts which are attached thereto constitutes the adjustable member of the timer. By

adjustable is meant that it may be revolved T for the urpose of controlling the operation of the timer, but ordinarily remains at rest, even when the shaft 2, is being revolved.

. There is a bearing plate 11 and a bracket 12, these parts being insulated from each other and from the base 10, but said base, plate and bracket are rigidly secured to one another through the rivets 13, -13 ciated insulating material 14. Additional fastening between the base 10 and bearing plate 11 is provlded by the rivet 15 and asproce'ss. The abutand asso- 13. This'spring retards theinotionof the sociated insulationlG, There is a timer le-. ver 20 fulcrume'd at its upper end as hereinafter described." The lower end 'ofthis lever carries a'contact point 21 adapted,

when said lever 20 is at the extreme left hand limit of its motion, to engage a contact point 22, said last named contact. point being' in the end of a screw 23, which screw, fits in a hole tapped in a bracket 12, and 1s preventedfrom turning therein by the check nut 24. The lever carriesa fiber block 25,

ada'ptedgto be engaged by the' periphery of p scribed'spring, and the contact point'21 sepa- I rated from the contact -point.22.' To prevent the cam 3 whereby, when said cam occupies certain "positions, said lever is forced to the right against the forceof thehereinafter-de excessive motion of'the 'lever 20 at high speeds of operation, there is a. buffer spring 26 .sec1ired to-the plate 11 by the rivets 13,

lever 20 when it' tends to fly an excessive .amount to the right. There is aspindle 30 (see Fig. 3) rigidly secured to the end of the lei'er 20 and. adapted to rotate inthe timer lever bearing 31. Thisbearing is rigidly secured to the bearingplate' 11. There is a spring 32 coiled about the outside of the bearing 31, one end of which rests against retainer 35.- To reduce. this friction, the

outer end 30 of the spindle is tapered or gradually reduced, so that the contact between the retainer 35 and the end 30 of the spindle 30 is limited to an area of small diameter. To secure the best operation, how- I ever, it is desirable that the center of this area of contact between the retainer and the end of the spindle be in the center line (prolonged) of'the portion 30 of the spindle 30... The portion 30 has the form of a surface of revolution, being in the specific form shown, cylindrical. The manner of securing this is shown in Fig. 4. The spindle 30 which includes-the portions 30 and 30, shoulder 30 and tapered end 30, is made in a lathe or other suitable machine so that the center of the tapered or gradually reduced end 30 is accurately in line 'with the prolonged axis of the surface of revolution 30. The largeportion of the tapered end,30 is of smaller diameter than that of. the cylin-.

drical portion 30. The lever 20 is placed in position on the portion 30", Fig.4 illustrating,

the parts after this has been done. a By means of a suitable tool 36, having a hollow end, the edges of the portion 30 are flared outwardly, so as to form a shoulder which secures the lever in place on the spindle.

By using a tool which does not touch the tapered end, the relative position of this end relative to the portion 30 is not changed, and correct alinement of the end 30 'obtained.

' Referring again to Fig. 1, there is a distributer lever 39, in the form of a flat spring. There is another fiat spring 40 for actuating said lever. Said lever 39 and spring 40 are "riveted at their right hand ends to a block 39. This block contains a hole through which passes a bearing .43, said hearing being riveted to the bearing plate 11. Said lever 39 carries at its free end contact points 41 and 42. Rigidly associated with the adjustable base 10 by means hereinafter explained, are two contact points 43 and 44,

adapted to be engaged by the contacts 41 and 42, respectively, when the lever 39 is at its lowest and its upper-most positions respectively. The lever 39 is so positioned that it rests against the periphery of the cam 4, and is forced downwardly by the action of the spring 40, whereby the combined action of the cam and the spring 40 produces an up and down motion of the lever 39, so that engagement is produced alternately between "the contact points 41 and 43 and between 42 and 44. The springiness of the lever 39 permits the cam 4 to force the middle of thelever 39 upward after the engagement of the contacts 42 and 44. If the lever 39 were rigid so that this additional upward movement of the central portion could not take place,-a slight inaccuracy in the relation between the c am 4,; the lever 39 and thecontact points 42 and 44 would be likely to cause either binding or else failure of the contacts 42 and 44 to engage. To show the manner of supporting the contact points 43 and 44 and making electrical connection .thereto, I will describe and show these features more particularly with reference to contact point 43, referencebeing made to Fig. 6. Thecontact point 43 is riveted to a support 45, which is secured to the adjustable base 10, but insulated therefrom by riv- 'ets.46 and associated insulating material 47.

Said support .45 includes, preferably in a single piece, the ear 45 holding the contact point 43, and the contact surface 45", to

gether with the portion 45 through which the screws pass (I shall herein use the term contact points to refer to portions which engage a-nd' disengage with practically no sliding, and contact surfaces, to -portions between which sliding occurs, and which may or may'not be at'times separated. The term pair in reference to contact points or surforming a portion of a spring There is a cooperating contact surface 48, 48' secured to the stationary part of the'apparatus. As the adjustable base and associated parts are revolved for purposes of adjustment, sliding takes place-between the pair of contact surfaces and 48*, but in use said surfaces do not become disengaged. In a similar manner the contact point 44 is held in a support 49, (see Fig. 1) also secured to, but insulated from the base 10 by the aforesaid rivets 46 and insulation 47. The contact surfaces 49* of the support 49*cooperate with the stationary spring 50 in a manner similar to that described with reference to the simi- "lar parts described above.

As shown in Fig. 5, the plate 11 has a tongue 11*. Asshown in Figs. 1 and 7, the bracket 12 has atongue 12. The insulating material 14-whichserves to insulate the plate 11 and the bracket 12 from each other and from the disk 10, also possesses a tongue 14, lying between the aforesaid tongues 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 7. The tongues 11 and 12 constitute contact surfaces which are means of screws 63 and associated insul adapted to engage certain stationary contact surfaces hereinafter described. It will be observed that I employ but a single piece to support the timer lever bearing 31 and the distributer lever bearing 43, and that this same piece also forms the tongue 11*. By making this a single piece, I obtain much greater rigidity and durability than if I used several pieces instead of the single plate 11; In-a similar manner, by making the tongue 12 an integral part of the bracket 12, I obtain durability in this member.

There are two flat springs '61 and 62, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, which are secured to the body 1 but insulated therefrom by ating material 64. These springs 61 and 62 are engaged by the tongues 11 and 12" respectively, which enter the space between the springs. During normal operation the spring- 61 is always engaged by thetongue 11*,but

' the spring 62 is shorter than the spring 61, and also possesses a recess 62 so that when the adjustable member occupies such posi- V tions that the tongues occupy the positions R or R, Fig. 7, contact is made between the tongues 11 and the spring 61, but notbetween the tongue 12 and the spring 62. As a part of the circuits which I may employ in connection with my invention, it is desirable to separate the tongue 12 and the spring 62 when the adjustable member is revolved to the limit of its motion in the direction in which the shaft 2 revolves. By arranging the spring 62 as shown, thisspring can be employed for either direction of rotation of said shaft, making it unnecessary for the manufacturer to provide different forms of ductor and insulation 70* the sprin 62 for different directions of rotation.. If the shaft 2 runs in a clockwise direction, as seen from the position of Fig. 1, a stop 1S provided for the adjustable member that the tongues "can move between the positions R and. A, of Fig. 7, but if said the motion of the adjustable member should be so limited that the tongues move between the positions A and R of Fig. 7.

In the particular form of timer which I have shown herein, the cam 3 is arranged to engage and separate the contacts 21 and 22 twice during each revolution of the shaft 2. The shape of the cam 4, and its relation to the cam 3 is such that when the cam 3 interrupts the circuit between the contacts 21 and 22, onepair of the distributer contacts is in engagement, and at the next separation of the timer contact points, the other pair of distributer contacts is in engagement.

In the circuits which sirable that the timer and distributer levers be insulated from the frame of the apparatus, and for this reason I have provided means whereby the cams do not cause a connection between the levers on which they act and the shaft 2. This is accomplished, in the case of the cam 3, by the fiber block 25 in the timer lever 20, and in the case of the cam 4, by making said cam of insulating material. The bearing plate 11 is insulated from the adjustable base 10 by the insulation 14 and 16 as described above.

The manner of attaching the spring 48 to i s the body of the apparatus and the cable 70 is shown in Figs. 6 and 8. There is an extension 1 integral with the body 1 (its position being indicated in Fig. 1). There is an insulating block 72 to which is secured the spring 48 by means of the hollow rivet 73. Thecable or wire 70, having the conextends into an opening in the insulating block 72; The insulation 70 does not rivet 73, but the conductor passes through said rivet and is secured thereto by solder 7 4 The insulating block 72 is secured, to the extension 1 of the body Said rivets may be located in the insulating block when said block is molded. Said rivets are threaded at their outer ends 76, 76 and possess square shanks There is a cover 7 7 preferably of sheet metal, fitting over theinsula-ting block 72, and possessing an opening through which the wire 7 0 passes. Said cover 77 has square fit over the square shanks by 7 8 and 79 respectively on the lower rivet. By means of the square holes in the cover' and cooperating square shoulders on the I employ it is deby means of rivets 7 6,

w shaft turns in a counter-clockwise direction,

teats.

rivets any torque exerted on the rivets due to screwing on the nuts--78 is resisted by the cover 77, and possibility of fracturing the insulating material through strain resulting therefrom is avoided. Connection between the cable 71 and the contact surface 49 is provided by an arrangement similar to that described above. There is also a cable 88.similarly connected to a terminal 89. which terminal, in turn, is connected to the contact spring 62.

While I do not limit the application of my invention to any particular form of circuit,

I show in Fig. 9 an arrangement which may be employed. For the sake of clearness in enabling the circuits to be traced, the parts are here shown largely in diagram.. There is here shown a storage battery 100, the negative terminal of which is grounded, and the positive terminal of which is connected to the wire 88 There is also'shown a generator having a commutator 102, against which bear the brushes 103, 104 and. 105, re: spectirely. The brush 103 is connected through a switch 106 to the positive terminal of the storage battery 100, and thlbrush 104 is grounded. There is a field winding 107 connectedto the brushes 103 and 105. This form of generator is typical of generators suitable "for charging storage batteries at varying speeds of operation, but the particu lar type of the generator is not a part of the invention. The switch 106 is for the purpose of disconnecting the storage bat tery from the generator when the generator is at rest, and may be automatic or manually operated, as.is preferred. The wire 88 is connected to the contact .62 through terminal 89, and there is a condenser 110 connected across the contact springs 61 and 62.

There are shown two spark induction coils having the respective primary windings 120 and 121, and secondary windings 130 and 131. One end of each of the primary and each of the secondary windings is grounded, and the remaining ends of the secondary windings 130 and 131 are connected to the respective spark plugs 140 and 141. The remaining ends of the respective primary windings 120 and 121 are connected to the wires" 7 0 and 71.

a rent from the battery flows through the wire I Assuming that the contacts 21 and 22 are in engagement-and also that 41 and 43 are in engagement and that the position of the adjustable member is such that the spring 62 is engaged by the tongue 12, then the cur- 88, terminal 89, spring 62, tongue 12,

'; bracket 12, contact point 22, contact point 21, lever 20, bearing plate 11, (here repre-.

sented by lines only) distributer lever 39, contact points 41 and 43, contact support 45, spring 48, wire and winding 120 to the ground, whence it returns to the negative terminal of the battery. The arrows show the path of this current. The arrangement of the cams is such that the contact points 21 and22 separate while the distributer points are in engagement, and when. this takes place a spark is produced at the spark plug 141 in the well known manner. Had the distributercontacts 42 and 44 been in engagement, instead of 41 and 43, the cur rent would have flowed from the lever 39 through the contact points 42 and 44, con' tact point support 49, spring 50, wire 71- and primary wind1ng121 to theground, and the interruption. of the circuit by the contact points 21 and 22 would have produced a spark at the spark plug 140. The

sible to turn the ignition. entirely off by means used to control the advancing and retarding of the spark, since it is merely necessary to move the adjustable member of the I timer suificiently far in the direction which retards the spark in order to accomplish this.

I claim as my invention 1. A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination, a stationary member and an adjustable member, said adjustable member including a pair of timer contact points adapted attimes to engage each other,

a contact surface electrically connected with each of said timer contact points, said contact surfaces being fixed relative to the ad-' justable member of the timer, and said sta-' tionary'member including a contact surface adapted to be engaged by each of said contact surfaces.

2. A timer for ignitionapparatus including, in combination, a stationary member and an adjustable member, said adjustable member including. a pair of timer contact points adapted at times to engage each other, and two contact surfaces, one connected electrically to each of said timer contact points, and said stationa member including two contact surfaces a apted to be engaged, at

certain times at least, by the respective contact surfaces associated. with the adjustable member, and a condenser connected across the contact surfaces associated with the stationary member. J a

3. A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination a stationary member and an adjustable member, said adjustable member including a pair of timer contact points adapted at times'to engage-each other, and

of said contact surfaces associatedwith said .adjustable member,

piece carrying each and a means for limiting the range of adjustability of said adjustable'member whereby one of said contact surfaces associated with the stationary member is always in engagement with the cooperating contact surface associatedwith said adjustable member, and whereby the other of said contact surfaces associated with said stationary member becomes at times separated from the.co6perating contact associated with said adjustable member.

4. A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination, an adjustable member carrying a pair of distributer contact points and a contact surface electrically connected to one of said contact points, and a stationary member carrying a contact surface adapted to engage said first named contact surface. I

5. A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination, an adjustable member carrying a pluralitv of pairs of distributer contact points, and a plurality of contact surfaces, one electrically connected to one of each of said pairs of distributer contact points, and a'stationary member including a plurality of contact surfaces, cooperating respectively with each of the first named contact surfaces.

'6. A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination, a timer lever, a distributer, lever, a bearing for each of said levers, and a single piece to which are attached both of said bearings,

' 7. A timer for ignition apparatus includlng, 1n comblnation, a stationary member,

a contact surface associated with said stationary member, .an adjustable member in{ cluding a timer lever, a distributer lever, a bearing for each of said levers, and a single ing a contact surface adapted to engage said first named contact surface.

I 8 A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination,

a timer lever, a distributer lever, a bearing for each 'of said levers, and a single fiat piece carrying each of said bearings and having a contact surface. I

9. A timer for ignition apparatus including a lever, a spindle for said lever, said spindle having a bearing surface in the form of'a surface of revolution on one side of said-lever and a gradually reduced end onthe other -side ofsaid lever, thepoint of said gradually reduced end being in "line with the axis of said bearing surface, a

of said levers and havhollow bearing into which said bearing sur- 1 face fits, and a. retainer abutting against aforesaid gradually reduced end" of said spindle.

10. A timer for. ignition apparatus in eluding, in combination, a' lever, a hole in said lever, aspindle passing through said hole, and having on one side of said lever a bearing surface in the form, of a surface of revolution, and a shoulder between said bearing surface and said lever, and having on the other side of said lever a gradually reduced extension, and a shoulderbetween said lever, a spindle passing'through Said hole and having on each side of-said lever ashoulder abutting said lever,'one' of said shoulders being formed after. said spindle is placed in the hole in said lever, and having on one side of said lever, beyond-said.

shoulder, a bearing surface in the form of a surface of revolution, and on the other side of said lever, beyond the shoulder, a gradually reduced extension, and including a bearing for said bearing surface-and a retainer abutting against the end-0f said gradually reduced extension.

cluding, in combination, a stationary mem- A timer for ignition apparatus in- 12. A timer for ignition apparatus, in-

able member including a pair of timer contact points adapted at times to engage each other, a contact surface electrically con' 'nected with each ofsaid timer contact points, one or more pairs of distributer contact points, and a contact surface electrically connected'to one of each of said pairs of distributer contacts, and saidv stationary member including a contactsurface adapted to be engaged by each of saidcontact surfaces.

13. A timer for ignition apparatus including, in combination, a stationary m'emher and an adjustable member, said adjustable membe r including timer contact points adapted at times to engage each other, a

contact surface electrically connected with each of said timer contact points, said contact surface being fixed in the sameplace relative to the adjustable member of'the timer, and said stationary member including a contact surface adapted to be engaged by each of said contact surfaces.

14. A timer for ignition apparatus inclu ding,in combination, a timer. lever, actuating springs, a distributer-lever, a bearing' for each of said levers, and a single piece. to which is attached both of said springs and bearings.

A timer for ignition apparatus ineluding, in combination, a timer lever, an aotuating spring, a distributer lever, a bearing for each of said levers, and a single member to which is attached both of said bearings and the spring. f

16. A timer for ignition apparatus in eluding, in combination, a main timer base, two circuit breaker levers, actuatingsprings, a bearing for each of said levers, and a 10 single member, separate from the main timer base, to which is attached both of said bearings and springs.

Signed at Anderson, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, this 16th day of Sept, 1914.

JOHN LEWIS MILTON.

Witnesses:

- O. F. CONKLIN,

H; D. HA'rrmm. 

